U.S. Patent No. 8,568,761 is based on one of multiple pending U.S. applications with claims directed toward ECM bioscaffolds that are augmented with a variety of bioactive components, such as TGF-2, TGF-? and DNA.

“Capturing and directing stem cell function for truly regenerating tissues requires the appropriate microenvironment, not just stem cells,” said Robert Matheny, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon and chief scientific officer for CorMatrix. “The future of regenerative therapy will be directed toward enhancing our effective matrices with factors that fully capture and augment regeneration.”

CorMatrix has U.S. clearance and CE marking for its ECM technology as an implant for pericardial closure, cardiac tissue repair and carotid repair. It plans to initiate human safety trials for heart failure in Europe early in 2014 with its formula and device for application of the ECM.

Background of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Biomaterial

The decellularized matrix material serves as a bioscaffold to allow vascular ingrowth from adjacent tissues to deliver progenitor cells and nutrients to the matrix, which then differentiate into tissue-specific cells and structures. The ECM material is gradually replaced as the patient’s own cells reinforces and rebuilds the diseased or damaged site. During repair, the matrix is naturally degraded and resorbed, leaving remodeled functional tissue where damaged or injured tissue may be expected.

This photo shows the 3D-bioprinted cell patch in comparison to a mouse heart. When the patch was placed on a live mouse following a simulated heart attack, the researchers saw significant increase in functional capacity after just four weeks. Image courtesy of Patrick O’Leary, University of Minnesota.